What is Bible Obedience?

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
Genesis 1: 1. Not only did God create the heaven and the earth,
God also, "created man in his own image, in the image of
God created he him, male and female created he them". Genesis
1: 27.

Every person of the whole human race is loved mightily and tenderly
by God our Creator. Whatever God has ever done for the human race,
he has done out of genuine love, and with an intense desire to
see man happy. In the Book, the Bible, our loving heavenly Father
and beneficent Creator has revealed unto the human race His divine
will.

Everything God has ever said to us in His Holy Book has been said
for our own good, and is conducive to our happiness here in this
life, and in the life that is to come. Our obedience, therefore,
to God's holy will as revealed in the Bible, is for our own personal
happiness and eternal welfare.

A study of the Bible and of human history reveals that man's obedience
to God's will has always brought man happiness, and disobedience
has always brought unhappiness. For this reason we have in the
Bible an emphasis on obedience. God said, "The things I command
you, observe to do". Deuteronomy 12: 32. Again, "If
you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land".
Isaiah 1: 19.

Christ himself set the example of obedience to the Father's will.
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him". Hebrews
5: 8,9. Christ said, "I came down from heaven, not to do
mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" John 6:
38. Again Christ said, "Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my father which is in heaven" Matthew 7:
21. The inspired Apostle John said, "He that doeth the will
of God abideth forever" I John 2: 17.

Man must come to know God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said,
"This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent" John 17:3.
Eternal life thus depends on our knowing God. But how do we know
that we know God? "Hereby we know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments" I John 2: 3. We cannot claim scripturally
to know God, if we refuse to keep his commandments. Obedience
shows we know God.

Man needs friendship with God and his Son. Jesus said, "Ye
are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you" John
15:14. Obedience is an expression of our friendship with Jesus.
What a marvelous friend we have in him! Every human being needs
this close friendship with our blessed Lord. Obedience shows our
friendship. Faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son is essential to
our salvation from sin. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16: 31. But our faith is not
a saving faith unless it expresses itself in obedience to God's
will. The inspired James said, "For as the body without the
spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" James
2:26. Saving faith expresses itself in obedience to God's will.
Certainly we know that love for God on our part is indispensable.
But love expresses itself in obedience. "If you love me,
keep my commandments", said Jesus in John 14: 15. Vocal claims
of love for God and His Son are empty sounds unless they come
from the hearts of faith, finding expression in willing, loving
obedience to God's will. Faithful obedience to God shows we love
God.